Public Statements

Markey Assails GOP Ideological Attack on VAWA

Statement

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today condemned House Republican leaders for their ideological alterations to the Senate-passed version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and called on Speaker John Boehner to bring the Senate version of the bill up for a vote. The House Republican bill will remove protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and will roll back existing legal authority for Native American courts.

"First, Republicans delayed the passage of protections for our nation's women and children against domestic violence and sexual assault. Now they are dismissing the rights of our nation's LGBT and Native American communities. With this new ideological evisceration of VAWA, House Republicans are showing their true colors," said Rep. Markey, who is the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees Native American issues.

"By delaying this bill, Republicans in Congress have already made it clear to women that domestic violence and sexual assault are second-tier issues for the GOP. By removing protections for LGBT and Native American people, Republicans in Congress are now saying they won't even consider giving them the same rights as other Americans. It is time for John Boehner and the rest of the GOP to end this shameful charade that bows to the far right of their party and immediately pass the Senate version of VAWA," concluded Rep. Markey.